Community and Open Arms

Today there was definitly a sense of community, comradarie and welcoming in almost everything we did.  The team has connected and everyone is fitting in well.  The local church leaders, and families have been more than welcoming and have embraced our team with open arms. Not only the church and church families, but the families of the homes our teams visited today.  Every year we have had the blessing of being able to visit some of the families in the area that have great needs, and been able to bring them a bucket of cooking staples for their families.  Today there were 3 home visits.  We will have one more team visit a home tomorrow.

Each of the groups in our team that got to visit a home had a different story to tell.  Some, very sad, and some heartfelt.  Stories of 7 people living under one roof not much bigger than 200 square feet, with not much more than scrap materials for walls and a roof.  It's here, during these moments that you truly get an understanding for the poverty and pain that exists in this area.  But, even with all that poverty, pain, fear and worry, its amazing how welcoming these families were to our team.  They wanted us to come in and wanted us to spend time getting to know them.  You can tell that they have made sure their "homes" are tidy and ready for visitors.

The church here in Tegucigalpa is quickly becoming the kind of church that all churches should be.  One that is based on community, strong faith and family.  Everyone has a role and everyone has a willingness to get involved and do the the LORDS work.  There is no, I dont have time for that, there is simply, yes let me help.  Something we can all strive to bring to our own churches.  Uninhibited worship, dedication, and faith.

The guys continue to get stuff done with the construction and are making great strides.  VBS was over run with kids today - Anne's words - a happy day!

Sewing had a successful team meeting with the local women leaders of the church, and talked about plans for the future and continuing with the mission.  They have a desire and a dedication to grow the ministry within their church.

Optical had a record breaking day with around 92 patients.  Technically things went smoother today, and many stories shared with the locals that came in.  Including one story of a young man who survived a bullet that went through his cheek and out through the other side, destroying his left eye.  But, he said, I survived, thanks be to God.

Today a few of the crew for week 2 arrived.  Two of them are taking a few personal days before the start of the second week mission, to do a little traveling.  The remaining missioner Pat, who is new to the team, is teaching our water ministry tomorrow.  Tomorrow morning, we have 15 women that are coming in to be trained with the water filters for the water with blessings.  Such an exciting new ministry for our team.  The women come for about 4 hours to learn how to put the filters together, and take care of them.  They sign a contract and the contract is for them to share the clean water with at least one other family, and to share the word of God.  We have two sessions this week, with another 2 sessions next week.  A total of 60 buckets and filters being sent out into the communities.  So awesome!

Below are some pictures from today, including a picture of a bunch of us working together to help Pat get the buckets ready for tomorrow.

Blessings,
Shelley